Stengel on Our Present Mess
Every day, I hear someone say how crazy our present situation is, how they can’t believe we’ve gotten ourselves into this mess, how they can’t understand it, how they just want to throw up their hands and walk away.
In thinking about who could comment on this in an appropriate, albeit inexplicable, way, I finally thought of Casey Stengel, who managed the New York Yankees from 1949 to 1960 during one of their great dynasty periods. He had a way of saying things that didn’t make sense until you started thinking about them. Even then, some of what he said didn’t make sense, but it was funny. He said so many things that I couldn’t settle on one that, in Casey’s sometimes impenetrable language, addresses our present mess. So, here are three quotes from which you can choose:
“If we’re going to win the pennant, we’ve got to start thinking we’re not as good as we think we are.”
“Never make predictions, especially about the future.”
“There comes a time in every man’s life, and I’ve had plenty of them.”
About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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About Jimmy Daniel
Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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About Larry Bridgesmith
While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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